Sir John Grey Gorton

Gorton, Sir John Grey, 1911–2002, Australian political leader, b. Melbourne. A fighter pilot in World War II, he was elected to the senate as a Liberal in 1949. He held a number of cabinet posts in the Liberal-County coalition of Robert G. Menzies and, under his successor Harold E. Holt, became (1966) minister for education and science. After Holt's death, Gorton was chosen (1967) to replace him as Liberal party leader and prime minister, but stepped down from these positions in 1971. He later (1973–74) served as minister for the environment. Gorton's most significant achievement was probably financing a national film school, an institution that has helped the development of the now burgeoning Australian movie industry. He was knighted in 1977.